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Created: May 20 2015

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL  – The inaugural Diversity Honors, co-presented by the Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park and hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday, May 9 raised more than $50,000 and recognized national and South Florida leaders who have made a significant impact on improving the quality of life for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.

BACK: Honorees Robert Boo (chief executive officer at The Pride Center at Equality Park), Elaine Lancaster (celebrity entertainer), Jazz Jennings (co-founder of the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation), Rand Hoch (President and Founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council), Lillian Tamayo (CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Florida), Judge William Thomas (11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida), Norm Kent (‎attorney and publisher at South Florida Gay News), Dennis and Judy Shepard (co-founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation), Deborah Cox, Commissioner Dean Trantalis and Stuart Milk (co-founder and president of the Harvey Milk Foundation) FRONT: Joey Arias

This milestone event paid tribute to Judy and Dennis Shepard, LGBT civil rights activists and co-founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, who received the Harvey Milk Honors Medal award from Stuart Milk, nephew of the late civil rights icon, Harvey Milk (1930-1978). Emceed by WSVN-TV’s Craig Stevens, Diversity Honors also recognized South Florida leaders who have made a significant impact on improving the quality of life for the LGBT community: international recording artist Deborah Cox, President and Founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Rand Hoch, nationally recognized teen activist and honorary co-founder of the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation Jazz Jennings, worldwide celebrity entertainer Elaine Lancaster (James Davis), CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Florida Lillian Tamayo, 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida Miami Judge William Thomas and Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis. Two unannounced lifetime achievement awards were presented to columnist and publisher Norm Kent and iconic cabaret performer Joey Arias.

The impressive evening of recognition with 350 guests included a festive cocktail reception, headline entertainment by Joey Arias, plus a gravity-defying performance by Cirque Dreams and the national anthem by Casandra Ortiz.

Diversity Honors sponsors included Serendipity Foundation, Ketel One, Whole Foods Market, Johnnie Walker, GPR | Goodman Public Relations, DMK, Mark Griffis, Miami Foundation/Our Miami, Over the Top Rental Linens, Metro Media Works, Cirque Dreams, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Take Shape Plastic Surgery, Trantalis Law, RBC Wealth Management, Steinway Piano Gallery and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Media sponsors included WSVN-TV, Hotspots Magazine, Florida Agenda, Genre Latino, Guy Magazine, Mark’s List, She Magazine, South Florida Gay News, The Mirror and Wire.